Spain is the worst offender among the large countries, emitting 15.4 million tonnes more CO2 in 2005 than the previous year, a rise of 3.6 per cent.

The 15 pre2004 members of the EU agreed to cut their greenhouse gases by 8 per cent by 2012 under Kyoto, but have so far achieved a cut of 2 per cent, a rate of progress causing deep concern among campaign groups. EU leaders are pinning their hopes on the second phase of their carbon-trading scheme, from 2008 to 2012, even though it failed to make cuts in its first two years.